NEWS & SUCCESS STORIES

NEWS // October 1, 2015

Resident Leaders Improve Health and Safety in Linda Vista

The Linda Vista Resident Leaders in Action is a committed group of
community members dedicated to improving the quality of life in Linda
Vista. The Leaders in Action – graduates of three generations of
Resident Leadership Academies (RLA) offered at Bayside Community
Center – meet on a voluntary basis at least once a month to continue
their work on identified community improvement projects.

During 2014 through 2015, the Leaders in Action took tremendous
strides towards accomplishing their projects and in turn addressed
deep-rooted community challenges - a reflection of their dedication to
Linda Vista and commitment to the Live Well San Diego vision of
a healthy, safe, and thriving region.

RLAs are leadership trainings designed to empower, sustain and
facilitate resident stewardship in their communities. Resident leaders
learn about advocacy, crime prevention and safety, and healthy food
systems and access.

“The Resident Leadership Academy has taught me to be confident and
not afraid to stand up for what I believe in,” said one Leader in
Action member. “I want to have a better community and will keep
working towards this.”

Among a number of projects this year, the Leaders in Action focused
on expanding the Linda Vista Community Garden at Bayside. Linda Vista
is a food desert - lacking easy access to healthy, fresh, andaffordable food in the neighborhood. The Leaders in Action
responded by selling organically-grown produce at low cost from the
garden to the community. The pop-up farm stand has been well-received,
with produce selling out and buyers returning every week for their
next pick-up of fresh tomatoes, leafy greens, squash, and more.

Another successful project for the Leaders in Action involved
efforts to calm traffic outside Kit Carson Elementary School.
Following several City of San Diego site visits and presentations to
community planning groups to gather support, the Leaders in Action
successfully advocated for the installation of “No U-Turn” signs and
the painting of a yellow, center, double line on one of the school’s
busiest bordering streets. Their next step is to pursue a crosswalk.
These activities help ensure the safety of the students who walk and
bike to school.

Leaders in Action also worked to increase lighting in Kelly Park, a
neighborhood outdoor space overlooking Tecolote Canyon. The group
spent hours collecting community input on the need for lighting,
presenting their findings in front of City Council during Public
Budget Hearings, and navigating through the process to ultimately get
the project in Mayor Faulconer’s FY15-16 citywide budget. Increased
lighting will not only address the safety concerns in the Park after
dark, but also enrich the neighborhood. Increased access to
recreational, community space for families, friends, and neighborhood
kids boosts the quality of life and allows neighborhoods to thrive.

The Linda Vista Resident Leaders in Action look forward to continue
to help their neighborhoods be healthy, safe and thriving in the years
to come.